Tour operator G Adventures in 2026 will operate Arctic itineraries for the first time since 2019.
"This is huge news for us," said G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. "Our travelers and agent partners have been asking when we will return to the Arctic and I'm delighted to say the time is now."
The tour operator is offering four Arctic itineraries with 10 departure dates. As previously reported, G Adventures is chartering the 128-passenger Ocean Adventurer through SunStone. It is a polar ship that Quark Expeditions had chartered previously.
G Adventures is renaming the ship Expedition in tribute to the "little red ship" that will no longer sail for G Adventures. The replacement vessel is a more fuel-efficient ship.
The Expedition will sail in Antarctica starting this October, then journey north next spring. Arctic itineraries will include Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland. Five
additional trips through Scotland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and
Labrador will be announced in the coming weeks, G Adventures said.
In the Arctic, onboard experts will include a marine biologist, ornithologist, geologist and historian. G Adventures says the expedition ship will be a "floating classroom," providing immersive and educational experiences for passengers. If weather allows, the tour operator hopes to offer daily excursions.
The cruises are available to book now, with detailed itineraries to be released in the coming weeks.
The Realm of the Polar Bear itinerary will travel through Norway's Svalbard archipelago across eight days, where travelers will explore fjords and have the chance to observe polar bears from afar.
Travelers on the Arctic Highlights Southbound itinerary will visit Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, the Greenland Sea and the Northeast Greenland National Park across 15 days. Highlights include visiting the Ittoqqortoormiit settlement to learn how this remote community lives.